Thanx for the reviews singingchick18, jgirl, BlueTigress, Hiphuggersforever'n'ever, CsiCalleigh01, Rachel Fox Mulwray, Liphuggers, and C.H.E.A.R.
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30 minutes later, Calleigh was on the labor and delivery floor, in her room. Calleighs contractions were steadily increasing and now coming every 20 minutes.
Unfortunately Eric was nowhere in sight, and Calleigh was getting worried.
"He should be here by now."
"He's probably in traffic, it Friday," Alexx said.
"Can you call him, please?"
"Sure," she said as she exited the room and walked into the waiting ready to make the call. After placing the call and waiting for it to connect, Eric soon picked up the phone.
"Alexx," he said breathily
"Where are you?"
"I just parked the truck," he said as he set the alarm.
"We're on the third floor, room 325."
"I'm coming," was all he said before he hung up the phone.
Alexx walked back into the room and saw Calleigh looking towards her, "he'll be up, any second now."
"Ok," was all Calleigh said as she waited for what seemed to be hours until he came through the door.
Within minutes there was a knock on the door, and a head popped through.
"Did I make it?" was the first question Eric asked
"You didn't miss the good stuff," she said as another contraction coursed through her body. Eric instinctively reached for her hand, and coached her through her pain.
After her breathing was back to normal, Eric reached for a wash cloth, and dampened it, eventually whipping Calleigh's forehead.
"Alexx, everything's going alright? I mean is she fine," he said as he looked at his wife, "is my daughter alright?"
Alexx looked at him and smiled, "everything is perfect, Calleigh's doing great, and the babies vitals are doing well."
"Good," he said but he paused clearing his thoughts, he continued, "and I am so glad you where with her. If she were alone, I would never have forgiven myself," he admitted.
"Enjoy the moment Eric; your wife will soon give you a daughter and from now on you'll be parents. I'll leave you two alone, I have to call the team," Alexx said as she walked towards the door.
"Some people should already be here; I called everyone I could think of on my way to the hospital," Eric said as he gently rubbed Calleigh's cheek.
"I'll give whoever is here an update, you take care of her. And Calleigh breathed through the pain as best you can, alright?"
"Yeah, tell everyone I said hi."
Alexx left the couple alone, and went to the waiting room. As she suspected the waiting room was full of family and friends. As she peered around the room, she was grateful that the room was large enough to sit everyone in attendance, which included Palvo, Carmen, Duke, Horatio, Ryan, Natalia, Maxine, Eric sisters Clara and Anabella, and a slew of young children.
Eventually all eyes where upon her and she began to speak, "she's doing fine, everything's coming along."
"How far along is she," asked Natalia.
"Last time she was checked she was about 4 centimeters."
"And her contractions?" asked Horatio
"Every 20."
"What about her pain?" asked Duke
"She's managing that pretty well, no talk of an epidural."
"How's Eric?" asked Carmen
"Scared and nervous for his wife; he's holding her hand and whipping her forehead, it's really sweet."
"How much longer do you think she'll be?" asked Pavel
"Since she plans on a vaginal delivery it all depends on her body, and how well she pushes."
"Can we see our baby cousin now?" asked one of the children, but before Alexx could answer Clara spoke up.
"You'll see the baby later, she's not ready to come out yet."
"Well tell Calleigh to get a move on, I brought sparkling cider and cake," said Maxine always ready to party.
"I'll tell her that, oh and she said hi as well," with that said Alexx returned to room 325.
Alexx knocked lightly on the door, and soon heard a 'come in.'
"How are we doing?"
"I feel a lot of pressure in my lower back, and nothing seems to help."
"Try getting on your hands and knees, it sometimes relieves some pain. Eric rub her back and reassure her through the contractions."
The two did as they where instructed and hoped this would help lessen the pain.
Hours passed and the new position lessened the pain for a while, but as time went on the contractions grew worse and more rapid.
"Calleigh, you're contractions are getting worse, are you ok?" asked Alexx
"No, can you call someone to check me."
"I'll go get someone," said Alexx
"No, please don't leave me," Calleigh said with a shaky voice
"Alright Sweetie I won't leave you," Alexx said as she walked towards the bed and pressed the call button for assistance.
"When they come in here, I need you to lie on your back again, just for a little while,"
Soon the door opened and Dr. Ford walked in, "Eric can you help her lie on her back."
Eric and Alexx both helped Calleigh turn over and lay on her back. And soon the doctor was checking Calleigh's cervix.
"It seems like you're now a good 8 centimeters now."
"Oh thank goodness, I'm so tired."
"Well try to relax, shut your eyes for a few minutes every now and then."
"That's hard to do, with pain ravaging your body every couple of minutes," Calleigh said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Calleigh; the first birth is usually the hardest and the longest. Would you like an epidural?"
"No, I want to remember everything about this experience, remember every sound and detail."
"Well we will do everything to help you reach your goal."
"Thank," was all Calleigh could say before she began to moan through her pain. Soon the pain subsided and she continued her statement, "thank you Dr. Ford."
"Try to relax," he said as he left the room.
"Can I please change positions?"
"Babe you don't have to ask," Eric told her.
Soon Calleigh was back on her hands and knees, this time rocking side to side as Eric rubbed her back, and Alexx kept an eye on the monitors.
Nurses where coming in and out of the room, setting up the baby warmer, bringing in blankets and a little baby hat. Calleigh looked to the side, and was in shock, sometime soon her child would be placed in that warmer.
Dr. Ford walked into the room once more, "Calleigh, its been a while. Its time for another check."
Calleigh turned back over with the help of Eric and Alexx, and waited for the doctors thoughts. "You're 10 centimeters, are you ready to push?"
She looked towards Eric and smiled, and then Calleigh turned towards Alexx for her approval, "yeah, I'm ready."
"Alright let me wash my hands, and let's have a baby," Dr. Ford said
Dr. Ford left and washed his hands with iodine soap, before a nurse came and placed gloves on his hand. He returned to back to the foot of Calleigh's bed, "alright, your next contraction I want you to bare down, and push for 10 seconds alright," he said.
"And you two," he said towards Eric and Alexx, "hold her legs back."
Alexx and Eric went on either side of Calleigh's bed, and waited for her next contraction to grab her legs. Fortunately they didn't have to wait long, "oh, oh, owe!" was all she could say before her legs where up and the doctor commanded her to push, "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10," alright take a few breathes.
For about 30 minutes Calleigh was pushing, and every time she pushed she became more and more exhausted.
"Calleigh, I need you to crouch down, and push," said Dr. Ford
"I can't," she breathed, "I'm so tired, I feel weak my legs are shaking."
Eric interjected, "yes you can, I know you're tired and your legs are shaking, but after our daughter is here everything will change."
The doctor noticed that something displayed on Calleigh's face while Eric spoke to her and decided to do something different.
"Nurse, lower the bed a little please?"
"Dr, what's going on?" asked Alexx
"Nothings wrong, I just want Eric to sit behind her. She seems to relax at just his words. She may be to tense, she just needs to relax in a sense and let her body do the work."
The bed was lowered and Eric did as he was told, he got behind his wife.
'With the next contraction, help her crouch down, and hold her leg. While you're doing all this talk to her, encourage her, alright?
Eric shook his head, and concentrated solely on her, as another contraction coursed through her body.
With legs bent and now two bodies crouched down, Calleigh pushed with everything in her as Eric spoke lovingly in her ear, "you're doing great Babe, push so we can see her."
After a few more, I love you's, you're doing great's, and think about her, the doctor told her to stop pushing because the head was out, but the baby needed time to maneuver her shoulders.
"Just one more push, and she'll be here, now push!" he commanded.
After one more push, Calleigh felt better as her child left her body and was now in the world. She fell back on Eric's chest in exhaustion, as there child was placed on Calleigh's abdomen.
Eric kissed Calleigh's forehead and spoke only to her, "you did it."
Eric cut the umbilical cord, and the two only had a few seconds to enjoy there daughter before she was whisked away to be cleaned, checked, weighed, and measured. Alexx walked over to the couple, "congratulations you two, she looks perfect. I'm going to step out and tell everyone while things get situated," she said referring to the after birth.
The nurse handed Calleigh the baby as Alexx left the room to make the announcement.
"We have a baby girl, born at 11:58, 6 pounds 5 ounces, 21 inches long."
The waiting area was in a uproar. Everyone was excited that the newest Delko had arrived.
"Whats her name?" the happy Grandparents yelled.
"I don't know, I just came out here to tell you the news, and give them some time with her. So let's give them 30 minutes, then knock on the door."
"30 minutes, I'll be back," said Ryan rushing out the doors.
"Where is he going?"
"Who knows Alexx," answered Natalia.
"Did everyone eat?" asked Alexx
"Yes, thankfully Carmen brought enough food for everyone," said Duke
"And there plenty left for you, Eric, and Calleigh. I know you're all hungry, we just have to find a microwave," Carmen said.
"It won't be hard to find a microwave, thank you Carmen."
"Don't thank me, I consider you all family."
Thirty minutes passed, and everyone stood up and gathered there belongings and left the waiting room. In the hallway they noticed Ryan with balloons trailing behind him, all in shades of pinks, greens, and a few that said it's a girl.
"Did you get enough?" Clara asked.
"I would've gotten more, but they wouldn't fit in the car," everyone laughed at Ryan as Alexx knocked on the door.
"You ready for some visitors?" Alexx asked
"Of course," Calleigh said cheerfully
Everyone walked into the room, and saw Calleigh sitting on the bed propped up by pillows holding her little girl. Eric was right by her side, taking in his pride and joy. Everyone single person gathered around the family, as Alexx snuck away to wash her hands.
"Can I hold her?" asked Natalia
"No, Alexx gets her first," Calleigh said playfully
"Awww man, why?"
"Because, she washed her hands silly."
Alexx stepped through the crowd and held the little bundle, "what's her name?"
"Everyone say hello to Jasleen Alexandra Delko," said Calleigh
Alexx's head popped up, " What, I wanted to name her after my mother, and well I think of you as my mother. So, will you be my daughter's Grandmother?"
"It would be my pleasure," Alexx said with tears in her eyes, "and you my dear Jasleen are going to be spoiled," she said looking at the baby.
"Alexx, I think Ryan has you beat, did you leave any balloons at the store?"
"I left 2 may 3 for other patrons," he said laughing.
"Why don't I take her, and let you all eat," suggested Carmen.
"Food, yes," Eric said excitedly.
"Everythings in the bag, so just dig in. And not to rush you but someone's anxious to open a bottle if you know what I mean," Palvo said.
"Maxine, what did you bring?" accused Calleigh
"Me, why did you assume it was me?"
"Because we know you, that's why," Eric said shaking his head.
"Alright, I confess I brought sparking cider and cake to celebrate, so eat up."
Alexx, Calleigh, and Eric ate as baby Jasleen was passed around and fussed over. The cider was opened, and the cake was cut but soon everyone began to leave, giving the couple time to be alone and rest.
Jasleen is pronounced Jaz-leen
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